Circuit interrupter



Nov. 10,1925. 1,561,316

O. H. ESCHHOLZ CIRCUlT INTERRUPTER Filed April 6, 1923 w|TNEssx-:s;` INVENToR 4 ATTORNEY Patented `N ov. l0, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO H. ESCHHOLZ, OF WILXINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

orner-:rr INTERBUPTER.

Application led April 6, 1923. Serial No. 630,267.

To all whom zt may concern.'

Be it known that I.- OTTo H. EsoHi-roLz, a

.citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circuit Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fluid-insulated circuit interrupters and more particularly to means for utilizing the gases generated within a circuit interrupter for expelling such ,gases as may be confined above the Huid level of the circuit interrupter.

One object of my invention is mto provide a Huid-filled circuit interrupter that is adapted toexpel confinedgases in advance of arc gases generated within the circuit interrupter.

Another object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter in which arc gases generated therein exert a uniform pressure upon gases confined within the circuit interrupter and above the fluid level.

It is also an object of my invention to pro# vide means whereby atomizing of the fluid within the circuit interrupter isminimized upon the formation of electrical arcs there- 1n.

In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a diaphragmwhich is normally submerged in an insulating fluid and which is adapted to move axially of the tank upon the formation of arc gases occurring during circuit interruption. The diaphragm is ar` ranged to have uniform axial movement of the tank for a limited distance and means may be provided for imparting'an irregular movement to the diaphragm during the latter portion of its travel. J v

. Many circuit interrupters are designed in such manner thatl the gases gener'ated'uponA the occurrence of an electrical arc are utilized' to cause the fluid to exert a piston-like' effect upon such gases asy mav be confined 'above the fiuid level.. AThe confined gases are thereby driven off before they come in contact with hot arc gases thereby eliminating 4the danger of explosions by reason of the mixture of an oxygen-containing gas Yand the hot combustible arc gases.

It has been found that conditions may arise, such as small total arc energy, low rate 'of gas generation or diverting superstructure, remitting in the incomplete funcresultant vbreaking up and atomization ofv the fluid surface and thus facilitating the production of an explodable mixtureof arc gases, confined gas and fluid spray within the circuit interrupter.

of these difficulties by providing a diaphragm which will impart a true piston-like motion at all points ofl the surface fluid.

r T he single figure of the drawings is a side view, partially in elevation andfpartially in section, of a circuitinterrupter embodying my invention. i

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, a circuit interrupter comprises a tank 2, a cover 3, relatively movable contact members 5 and 6, electrical conductors -7 communicating therewith, and actuating mechanism 8 therefor. The tank 2 contains 'a suitable insulatingfluid 9, in which the rations 14 and slots 15 are provided for the escape of gas particles Land tov permit the diaphragm to' move longitudinally' of the tank. 4In the 'event of the fluid level falling below thel diaphragm, the diaphragm 'functions asa barrier' between the arc and confined4 gases as well as a piston. A'stop member 16 is provided for a'purpose hereinafter described.

In the operation of acircuit interrupter equipped with my invention, manipulation ofthe mechansm 8 causes a relative movement between the contact members 5 and 6 that is accompanied bv the formation of an electrical arc. The gases generated by this arc tend 'to rise through, and violently ag- My invention contemplates the eliminationv 70 tate, the uid 9. These gases encounter the ried with it and acts as a piston in driving cuit interrupter.

out the confined gases which normally fill the space within the circuit interrupter above the -fluid level. Movement of the "diaphragm continues uniformly through an intermedi-Y ate position indicated by dotted lines at B until one edge of the diaphragm encounters the stop member 16. The stop member may produce an irregular or tilting movement of the diaphragm thereafter.I resulting in its assuming the inclined position indicated by broken lines at,C. The tilting' movement of the diaphragm 12 sweeps the gases in the direction of the venting means 11.

The fluid which has been carried in advance of the diaphragm is directed toward the lower edge of the diaphragm while the free edge is blown free from the luid,there by permitting the escape o f the arc gases to the venting device 11.

The velocity imparted to the diaphragmv and the suspended oil during their travel from its normal position to its uppermost. position, is such that the confined oxygen# bearing gases, which normally fill the space above the fluid level rof the circuit interrupter, are driven off without any material amount of atomization of the fluid. The arc gases may then be permitted to come' in contact with the mulfling device 11 without incurring the danger of exploding with oxygen containing gases. The arc gases are also somewhat cooled, by coming in contact with the diaphragm 12, by reason of the energy expended in lifting the daphragm and the entrapped fluid, and also by the, cooling of certain particles of the gas which h5ave .escaped through theopenings 14 and 1 Accordingly, I'have provided a circuit interrupter having means for providing a true piston-like action of the confinedfluid and for utilizing thisaction in driving off the gases usually found above the fluid level beforethese gases can come into contact with the hot arc gases generated within the cir- It will be apparentthat various modifications may be made in details and general arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in i the appended claims. l I' clalm as my invention 1. In a circuit interrupter, the combina.- tion with a closedtank, a fluid in said tank, relatively movable contact members immersed in said fluid, and venting means for said tank, of a diaphragm having uniform movement axially of said'tank for a limited distance and means for causing an irregular movement of said diaphragm beyond a pre-l determined point.

2. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a closed tank, a fluid in said tank,

relatively movable contact members im mersed in said fluid, and venting means for said tank, o-f a diaphragm having avunifo'rm movement axially-of said tank for a limited distance, whereby the gases within the tank and above the diaphragm arey compressed,` said diaphragm having a subsequent movement for sweeping the 4compressed gases towards the venting means. 3. In a circuit, interrupter,` the combinarelatively movable contact members .immersed in said fluid, 'and vent-ing means for said tank disposed eccentrically thereof, of a diaphragm having a movementv during tion. with a closed tank, a iuidin said tank,

which the gases withinjtheftank and thereabove are compressed and a. subsequent movement for sweeping the compressed gases towards the venting means.

4. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a closed tank, al fluidin said tank, relatively" movable contact members immersed in said fluid, and venting means fory said tank disposed eccentricallyy thereof, of a diaphragm having movement axially of said tank, means projecting from the inner surface of the tank for normally ,supporting the diaphragm and means projectmg from` the 'inner sur/face of the tank at a different plane from the first means for arresting uniform movement of, the diaphragm and causing it to describe a sweeping movement in the direction of the venting means upon the` formation of an electrical aro between the contact members.

In a circuit interrupter, the combination with a closed tank, a fluid in said tank, relatively movable contact members imv mersed insaid fluid, and venting means for said tank disposed eccentrically thereof, of adiaphragm having movement axially of said tank, means for supporng the diaphragm disposed within the ta and means ydisposed at another point in said tank4 for arresting the uniform movement of the diaphragm and causingvit to describe a sweeping movement towards the venting means upon the formation of an electrical arc between the contact members.

-' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed'my name this 4th day of April,

oT'roH. EsoHHoLz. 

